A welcome to new members:

It is a pleasure to welcome several new members: 

Peter Macky, Auckland; 

Col. Louisa O’Brien*, Wellington; 

Adrienne & Donald Staples*, Featherston; 

Merv & Colleen Appleton, Auckland; 

Roland Sarten*, Wellington;

Hamish Birss*, Wellington. 

Those marked* joined following the excellent formal dinner at Trentham Military Camp last October.

We are also pleased to welcome several of our Belgian friends as Complimentary Members:

Eric Campernolle,

Johan de Jonghe,

Lee Ingelbrecht,

Simon Louvagie,

Frank Mahieu,

Gregory Verfaille,

Marijke Vandervyvere,

Luke Duhane

Steven Reynaert.

The Society’s Annual General Meeting

As recently notified, our Annual General Meeting is being held in the Auditorium at Auckland War Memorial Museum on Monday 15th April at 5.30pm.

We appreciate that this is not very convenient for members living outside Greater Auckland.  However this is, of course, where the majority of our members live and obviously we need to maximise the numbers for our AGM.  If you have reason to visit Auckland occasionally then perhaps your visit could coincide with 15th April – you will be most welcome to attend. Unfortunately ZOOM is not a practical proposition at the venue but it is something we should perhaps try to achieve in future.  If you are within reach, please do try to attend so that we can conduct the necessary business of our Society within a wider group.  The occasion is also an opportunity to meet other members.

Annual Commemoration

Our Annual Commemoration will be held in the WW1 Hall of Memories at Auckland Museum on Saturday 12th October 2024 at 11.00am.  As we are able to hold this on the actual Anniversary of the fateful battle, there will be no separate laying of a wreath and floral tributes at the Cenotaph this year.

At last year’s Annual Commemoration Peter Macky gave an excellent and very relevant speech – it is attached.

The Society’s Website

We have been aware that our new website has been difficult to find owing to its change of address and the adding of the word “The”  before “Passchendaele” on the opening page.  Thanks to considerable work by our Treasurer Mike Hartley, the site has now been relocated at the former address of https://passchendaelesociety.org/

Have you heard about the Purple Poppy?

 We recently received an interesting enquiry from Wendy Barclay Wilson in Taranaki about the Purple Poppy.  Wendy wanted to tell the story to schoolchildren in her area.  This was a topic we had rather overlooked, so Board member Dylan Woodhouse researched and wrote a most interesting article – go to https://bloodandmud.org/animalsinthegreatwar

Future Gatherings

Following the success of Members’ Gatherings at Trentham Camp and Auckland Cathedral, we are looking at the possibility of further gatherings later this year.  However, these inevitably involve exploring possible dates, venues, content and costs, and take quite a lot of work.  We will, of course, advise you if and when anything is organised.  If you have any ideas, please let us know.

Are your details up-to-date?

We are finding that quite a number of members have changed their contact details over a period of time - mostly by cancelling their landline, but also changing their email address and even moving house.  If in the past 12 months or so you haven’t advised us of any changes that we should know about, please advise Bob Davis at passchendaelesocietynz@gmail.com

Lapel badges

Just a reminder that our lapel pin badges are still available - if you have lost yours or want another one, please contact Bob Davis, who holds the stock.  His email address is above.  $6 for one  badge or $5 each for two or more.

News contributions welcome

We always consider items of news for inclusion in the Society’s e-newsletter.  If you have anything yourself or hear of anything that might be suitable, please do send it to us.  It will always be of interest if you or anyone you know visits Flanders – snippets and photographs would certainly be welcome.

How to contact us:                                                                        

Editor:  Gerard Birss

Telephone: (09) 413 5322 (President & Hon. Secretary, Bob Davis)

or Email: passchendaelesocietynz@gmail.com